Speed limits

How slow would you drive if you knew that a small child was definitely going to run out in front of your car in the next two minutes?
 
My eyes would be on stalks, my foot poised on the brake pedal, and I would be overtaken by constipated slow-worms.
 
And you would be doing exactly the same.
 
So, we’re agreed that if you are driving near a school then it makes sense to slow down.
 
What about at night?
 
Or during the school holidays?
 
Aren’t you tempted to ignore those signs when you know the kids aren’t there?
 
Now, why is that?
 
Because it’s logical.
 
We know that the speed limit is there to potentially save a child’s life. But if the child isn’t there, then what’s the point of slowing down?
 
The trouble is that we don’t always know that the child isn’t there.
 
Evening performances of the school play. Holiday clubs. Whatever.
 
But the temptation’s too great and we ignore the signs, or maybe just edge over the limit a bit, when we think it’s safe.
 
The basic idea of lowering the speed of passing traffic near schools is sound but the implementation in Guernsey is poor.
 
365 days a year, but kids are only in school for about 280 of them.
 
24 hours a day, but kids are only on the roads near schools for about 4 of them, as they come to and from school.
 
So we have speed restrictions for a situation which occurs just 13% of the time.
 
No wonder people ignore the limit sometimes.
 
This is wrong and we need to put it right.
 
But to do it right needs a bit more money spent up front and a bit more effort.
 
Change the signs to apply the limit only when the warning lights are flashing. Yes, we will need warning lights and a switching system for the school. Yes, it will cost money.
 
Switch the system on when the kids are vulnerable and switch it off when they’re not around.
 
Now that we know the limit is only in force when necessary, reduce it to 20mph.
 
Who’s going to object?
 
We’ve already agreed that we’d creep along if a child was definitely going to try and get under our wheels.
 
It’s a sensible precaution, effectively implemented.
 
Now you can police the limit when the lights are flashing and when anyone speeding really does need to be caught.
 
Focussed use of police and court time. Less overall cost.
 
Anyone got a better idea?